Friday, September 10, 2010

Sheep I have known...(and other thoughts)

As part of my on-going efforts to organize all of my yarn, before taking it into the new studio, I've been washing skeins of handspun that have been packed away for a while. Just so you know, there's lot of it. As in----I quit counting at 200 skeins and left the rest uncounted. All handspun, by me and nearly all are from sheep that I have owned and cared for in my life as a shepherd. Today while arranging some of the skeins on a drying rack on the back porch of the studio, I couldn't help but be amazed at all the different, but natural colors. Most of them are tinged with brown because I have always loved natural colored sheep and, until now, have not used coats to keep the tips of the fleeces from being sun-bleached. The variety of shades in those skeins is amazing to me.

I stood there for a long time, touching and looking at the skeins, and thinking about all those lambs I have raised. As a city girl, years ago, whose parents didn't allow pets in our home, I could not have dreamed in my wildest imaginations that I would end up living the life I have now. I know how fortunate I am and I try not to take a single day of this life for granted. Though I have been known to complain about the constant work (especially if it happens to be over 90 degrees!), I'm grateful to be where I am, doing what I do. One month from today, I will reach a milestone birthday. It's a sobering one, to be sure. I am no longer able to deny the fact that I have a lot less time ahead of me than I do behind me. I intend to use the occasion as a reminder to get on with my life and to enjoy all that life brings me.

So, that was not where I was headed when I began this post, but, as so often happens with me, I start out in one direction and end up somewhere completely different.

I was so happy to see that you have skeins of yarn that were spun just for the sake of spinning! Now I don't feel self conscious about my bags of skeins and balls of yarn. When I get to 200... I can just keep right on spinning! ;-)

I can relate, as someone who (as you know) had to take up knitting to use up some of all that yarn I had spun.

Since Fair Isle is far beyond my ability - do you have any suggestions for use of lots of skeins of different shades of natural colors? I've been looking at quite a few of my own skeins and wondering what to do with them. I considered a ruana, knit from side to side to make the stripes vertical (short, fat, girls don't need the aggravation of horizontal stripes).

As for the years creeping by, I've had to face the fact that the dream of a farm with sheep and chickens is probably never going to happen, and if it did, I probably wouldn't have the strength or energy to do it! I admire you for doing all that work yourself, and I know how much love goes into all you do on the farm.

Hi Dianne !!!What a lovely post :0)It is so nice to see someone who appreciates and enjoys their blessings :0)Your yarn looks sooooo beautiful !!!! What an accomplishment and how special that it came from your sheep :0)I hope that your week is wonderful !!!!